National Republican., 1887-02-23
Cost and Quantity of American smok-
ing aud Chewing.

Special TO the Phila. Public Lodger.l
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 10.-Whether
tobacco is luxury or necessity In our
daily economy is q disputed question, but,
Judging from the quantity annually con-
sumed, IL would seem that tobacco is very
generally used by the people of the United
States, and that II must be considered some
what Of o necessity by no inconsiderable
portion Of them. Those who have not an
alyzed the figures collected by the internal
revenue department have no conception of
the extent to which tobacco Is used in this
country. Tea Is classified as one OF the
daily necessities OF life, and enters into
very general use, yet compared with the an
nual consumption OF tea that of tobacco
presents very remarkable contrast, The
importation Of tea into the United States
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885,
was so, ,399,S6 pounds, the appraised value
Of which was $40, 100000. Assuming that
two.thirds Of the 60,000,000 of people of the
United States are adults and consumers OF
tea, the consumption per capita would be
about two pounds, and the per capita eX-
penditure Of money on this account would
be about 40 cents,
Compare these figures With those show
ing the annual consumption Of tobacco.
During the last fiscal year the quantity OF
manufactured tobacco upon which tax was
paid was 1856, ,426, 103 pounds, and, as tax is
not paid until the tobacco is to be with
drawn from bond for consumption, those
figures may be assumed to represent the
quantity sold and actually used. Snuff
and cigars are not included In these figures,
which are confined to manufactured to.
bacco prepared In plug and packages for
chewing and smoking. Assuming that the
same proportion OF the people use tobacco
that use tea, It will be found that the per
capita consumption of this article is three
and one.half pounds against two pounds Of
tea. The amount Of tax paid on manufac-
tured tobacco last year was Sl4, ,S35,095,
sum nearly equal to the aggregate appraised
value Of oil the tea imported during that
| period.
The figures showing the number OF cigars
annually consumed are equally interesting.
| Cigars upon which tax was paid last year
| foot up $3.50, ASS. The average length
| Of cigars is four inches. II the cigars upon
which tax was paid last year were laid
slngly In row they would extend around
| would extend 22l ,64S miles. Distributed
| equally among the entire population OF the
| United States each person would receive 5Sl
| cigars. IL 1t be assumed that one-half Of
| the population smoke, the per capita con-
| sumption was III cigars.
The consumption Of cigarettes also pre-
sents interesting figures, and shows that the
| ptICcutHBt luCEtdht Is III
| than in cigars. Tax was paid last year on
1910, ,96l, $50 cigarettes, an increase OF 252,
212, ,112 over the preceding year, whhe the
| increase In cigars consumed during the
same period was 151 ,925, ,S55. The amount
| Of tax collected last year on cigars was
| $40, ,532, S03, and on cigarettes 1856, $50. The
total amount collected during the year on
cigars and tobacco through the internal
] revenuea department was $91907, 1868. In
addition to this amount, there was col.
| lected through the custom house for duties
| on imported tobacco and cigars $S,3l1, lii.
| Adding these two items gives $36,2lS, ,476
as the aggregate Of the tax paid last year to
the government for cigars aud tobacco,
which is equal to tax Of GO cents per
| capita upon the entire population. 1t is
| within bounds to estimate the value Of the
| tobacco and cigars consumed at four times
| the amount of the tax. On this basis, add
ing the tax, the people of the United States
paid last year for these articles $1Sl 0J2 $3.50,
or more than SO for every man, woman, and
| child In the country.
The appraised value Of all the coffee i'm
| ported last year was 81, ,675 800, aud of the
tea, S15,770,S27. For tax alone on our
chewing and smoking there was expended
over $50, 600, ,000, and for the articles them
| selves, exclusive Of tax, about Sl45,000 COO.
| These facts and figures would seem to
| Justify the claim that tobacco has become
to our people as great necessary as tea
and coffee.